West VirginiaVoter forms ask applicants whether they want to join a donor registry
West Virginia voter forms ask people registering or updating their records whether they want to join a national organ donor registry, and the Secretary of State may help send their choices.
What it does
People registering to vote or updating their voter record are asked whether they want to register as organ donors and join the National Donate Life Registry. They may leave the question blank.
The Secretary of State may set up a donor registry or arrange to send voter donor records to one. The Secretary must provide records, but is excused if the Center for Organ Recovery and Education does not reimburse system costs.
Argument forRecording a donor choice during voter registration could make it easier for procurement groups to find that choice when a person is near death.
Argument againstSending voter donor records to a registry could raise privacy concerns, even though personal details are limited to checking a person’s donation choice near death.
More detail
Voter registration applications ask whether applicants want to register as organ donors and join the National Donate Life Registry. This applies to people registering to vote and people changing details on their voter registration. Applicants may leave the question blank; their registration application cannot be rejected for that reason. The Secretary of State must give people information about the donation program and how to record their choice on a voter registration card. The law took effect June 8, 2026.
The Secretary of State may set up or contract for a donor registry, or contract for a system to send donor information to a registry. The records concern a person’s choice to make, change, or withdraw an organ donation. The Secretary of State must provide relevant donor records collected through voter registration to a registry in connection with registration and updates, but is excused from collecting and providing records if the Center for Organ Recovery and Education does not reimburse the costs of creating and running the transmission system. Registry personal information may be used or shared only with express consent, except to check near death whether a person made, changed, or withdrew a donation choice. These provisions took effect June 8, 2026.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 29Chapter 134, Acts, Regular Session, 2026Latest
- Mar 14Approved by Governor Patrick Morrisey 3/17/2026 - House JournalMajor
- Mar 14Approved by Governor Patrick Morrisey 3/17/2026Major
- Mar 14Approved by Governor Patrick Morrisey 3/17/2026 - Senate JournalBecame Law
- Mar 11To Governor 3/11/2026 - Senate JournalTo Governor
- Mar 11To Governor 3/11/2026Minor
- Mar 10House received Senate message
- Vote recorded Passage. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 10Completed legislative action
- Mar 10Communicated to House
- Mar 10Passed Senate (Roll No. 402)Passed Senate
- Mar 10Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 10On 3rd reading
- Mar 9Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 9On 2nd reading
- Mar 6Read 1st timeMinor
- Mar 6On 1st reading
- Mar 5Reported do passMinor
- Feb 20To Government OrganizationMinor
- Feb 20To Government OrganizationMinor
- Feb 20Introduced in SenateMinor
- Feb 19Communicated to Senate
- Vote recorded PASSAGE. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 19Title amendment adopted (Voice vote)
- Feb 19Passed House (Roll No. 128)Passed House
- Feb 19Read 3rd timeMinor
- Feb 19On 3rd reading, Special Calendar
- Feb 18Read 2nd timeMinor
- Feb 18On 2nd reading, Special Calendar
- Feb 17Read 1st timeMinor
- Feb 17On 1st reading, Special Calendar
- Feb 16Do pass
- Feb 12Markup Discussion
- Feb 9To House JudiciaryMinor
- Feb 6Markup Discussion
- Feb 6To House Legal ServicesMinor
- Jan 21To House JudiciaryMinor
- Jan 21Introduced in HouseMinor
- Jan 21To JudiciaryMinor
- Jan 21Filed for introductionIntroduced
HealthcareCivil Rights & Voting